Ultimately, however you cut it, every single philosophy (basically) religion and psychology say, in essence, if you follow not your instincts (which all come from desires (for pleasure/s) or fear (pain, shame) and listen instead to your rational mind (not thoughts.. which are perceptions, rather objective truth – which as Jewish mysticism teaches, can only be discerned by a mashpia (chassidic spiritual mentor (for even our mind contains thoughts, which are influenced by our emotions) can you